In order to address this situation, the Gambian government, with support from FAO and the German government through the Gambian-German Forestry Project (GGFP) and various local NGOs, has been spearheading the establishment of community forests and community-based forestry projects since the early 1990s.

UNESCO: Community-Based Forestry Management Programme

When the families are released, the project partners and Forestry Commission Scotland will continue to oversee the project.

BBC: Beavers arrive for spring release

The grant to buy the woodland came from Cydcoed - a Forestry Commission Wales community woodland project, which is funded by the European Union and Welsh Assembly Government.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Wales | South West Wales | Village campaign secures woodland

The Lake District Osprey Project is managed by a partnership of the Forestry Commission, Lake District National Park Authority and the RSPB.

BBC: Lake District ospreys: new pair at Bassenthwaite

Forestry Commission ecologist Tom Dearnley said they were "extremely keen" to see the project go ahead at Kielder.

BBC: Water vole

Also involved in the project are Gateshead Council, Northumbrian Water, the National Trust and The Forestry Commission with additional funding from The Heritage Lottery Fund and SITA Environmental Trust.

BBC: NEWS | UK | England | Tyne/Wear | School adopts rare bird of prey

Even conservationists admit that the project is less awful than a former plan to turn the area into a commercial forestry plantation.

ECONOMIST: Southern Africa